WHAT WERE POPULAR FORMS OF HAIRSTYLES, CLOTHING, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S FASHION, AND CHILDREN'S FASHION IN SHAKESPEARE'S ENGLAND? HOW WERE THESE DIFFERENT IN URBAN/RURAL LIFE? HOW WERE THESE DIFFERENT IN NOBLE/MERCHANT/COMMON LIFE?
Answer Prepared by: Erika B.
In Shakespeare’s England, appearance was everything. It defined your position in society, whether you were a noble in the upper class, or a worker in the lower class. Included as fashion, hairstyles were equally important, and both women and men took “pride and joy in making their hair look as fabulous as the next person's” according to Lesley Barfield in “Hairstyles of the Elizabethan Period." Cost was often not a considation, as the people of this time only wanted the best. Men wore shoulder-length, curled hair called “love locks” (Lesley Barfield). It was dyed the fashionable color of red, but when the men went bald, they relied on wigs, usually white or yellow. The women, however, strived to have a bright blond color, and according to Lesley Barfield, they would sit in the sun for the whole days, just so they could have that “golden glint” added by the sun. Another fashion the women had was false hair. It was either “formed by white and yellow silk” or made of peasants hair! (Barfield.) They also added many accessories, the most popular being the hair net. The nets were made of silk, or for the poorer people, crepe. They were decorated with gold and jewels, and hairpins and combs were added to finish off the look.
Hairstyles for men (left) and women (right).
People of this time also took pride in their clothing. Acording to Jeffery Singman, first came the undergarments. The main undergarment for both men and women was the shirt, which was comfortable and worn between the inner and outer layers of clothing. The richer people wore silk shirts, but they were more commonly made out of white linen. The shirts were simple, but the fancier shirts were decorated with lace around the shoulder and cuffs. Additionally, men wore breeches, or undershorts. Women in England didn’t wear breeches, but they had begun to in Italy. They were also made of white linen, and, like the shirts, they had embroidery around the cuffs.
On top of the undergarments, women would wear one, or all, of three pieces. They were the “kirtle” (long fitted dress), the bodice or “petticoat” (skirt), or a gown (Singman 95-96). The kirtle was a dress that fell down to the feet and had no seam at the waist. It was a simple style, relating to medieval garments, but never worn by itself; it was always worn with another piece. The bodice was a close-fitting garment worn on top, usually made of wool. The shape was “rather severe and masculine” (Singman 95), and the bodice was “stiffened to mold the body into that fashionable shape.” They were either sleeved or sleeveless. The working women tended to wear the sleeveless so they could work around the house, but the sleeved ones were for formal situations. The upper class wore them stiffened by bundles of dry reeds, and the lower class was less stiff. The third piece was a petticoat. The shape of this was decided by the shape of the undergarment. Some women wore multiple skirts for volume on the lower half, and to keep warm. They were made of wool for the outer ones, and the inner petticoats were linen. The gowns were simply a bodice and a skirt sewn together. According to author Jeffery Singman, it was the “richest form of garment,” and it “took many forms (96). They had false sleeves, and were opened at the front to show the skirts underneath.
Typical Elizabethan Era clothing for women.
For men, the style was different. On the bottom half, the they wore long hose. The hose was like modern tights, but looser fitting. They were made of woven fabric, typically wool. They bagged up around the ankles. The upper class men wore “trunk hose,” which were “onion shaped and stuffed”. (Singman 100). They fell on the top of the thighs. Later on, canions were added. These were "tight-fitting cylindrical extensions that reached from the bottom openings of the trunkhose to the top or bottom of the wearer's knees" (Singman 100). They fell to the top or the bottom of the man’s knees. Men also wore breeches, which were “knee length trousers” (Singman 97), and they were close cut to the body, but they grew to have more volume, and were made of wool and lined with linen. On the upper body, men wore doublets, which were short, fitted jackets. They were made of wool, canvas, fine fabric, or sometimes even leather! A jerkin could be added on top. This is basically the same thing as a doublet, but sleeveless. The doublet was worn across all classes of society, but the quality and tailoring varied. Lower society wore a coat instead of a doublet.
What men would wear during the Elizabethan Era.
The difference between poor and wealthy clothes was significant. The rich's clothes were mainly made of velvet, satin, and silk, and were decorated with feathers and jewels. The poor wore coarse, ill-fitting clothes. The Children basically wore miniature forms of what the adults wore, and until the age of 5, the boys dressed the same as the girls. The looks of the people in Elizabethan England were very important. They kept their pride in their appearances, and it showed.
WHAT WERE POPULAR FORMS OF HAIRSTYLES, CLOTHING, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S FASHION, AND CHILDREN'S FASHION IN SHAKESPEARE'S ENGLAND? HOW WERE THESE DIFFERENT IN URBAN/RURAL LIFE? HOW WERE THESE DIFFERENT IN NOBLE/MERCHANT/COMMON LIFE?
Answer Prepared by: Erika B.In Shakespeare’s England, appearance was everything. It defined your position in society, whether you were a noble in the upper class, or a worker in the lower class. Included as fashion, hairstyles were equally important, and both women and men took “pride and joy in making their hair look as fabulous as the next person's” according to Lesley Barfield in “Hairstyles of the Elizabethan Period." Cost was often not a considation, as the people of this time only wanted the best. Men wore shoulder-length, curled hair called “love locks” (Lesley Barfield). It was dyed the fashionable color of red, but when the men went bald, they relied on wigs, usually white or yellow. The women, however, strived to have a bright blond color, and according to Lesley Barfield, they would sit in the sun for the whole days, just so they could have that “golden glint” added by the sun. Another fashion the women had was false hair. It was either “formed by white and yellow silk” or made of peasants hair! (Barfield.) They also added many accessories, the most popular being the hair net. The nets were made of silk, or for the poorer people, crepe. They were decorated with gold and jewels, and hairpins and combs were added to finish off the look.
People of this time also took pride in their clothing. Acording to Jeffery Singman, first came the undergarments. The main undergarment for both men and women was the shirt, which was comfortable and worn between the inner and outer layers of clothing. The richer people wore silk shirts, but they were more commonly made out of white linen. The shirts were simple, but the fancier shirts were decorated with lace around the shoulder and cuffs. Additionally, men wore breeches, or undershorts. Women in England didn’t wear breeches, but they had begun to in Italy. They were also made of white linen, and, like the shirts, they had embroidery around the cuffs.
On top of the undergarments, women would wear one, or all, of three pieces. They were the “kirtle” (long fitted dress), the bodice or “petticoat” (skirt), or a gown (Singman 95-96). The kirtle was a dress that fell down to the feet and had no seam at the waist. It was a simple style, relating to medieval garments, but never worn by itself; it was always worn with another piece. The bodice was a close-fitting garment worn on top, usually made of wool. The shape was “rather severe and masculine” (Singman 95), and the bodice was “stiffened to mold the body into that fashionable shape.” They were either sleeved or sleeveless. The working women tended to wear the sleeveless so they could work around the house, but the sleeved ones were for formal situations. The upper class wore them stiffened by bundles of dry reeds, and the lower class was less stiff. The third piece was a petticoat. The shape of this was decided by the shape of the undergarment. Some women wore multiple skirts for volume on the lower half, and to keep warm. They were made of wool for the outer ones, and the inner petticoats were linen. The gowns were simply a bodice and a skirt sewn together. According to author Jeffery Singman, it was the “richest form of garment,” and it “took many forms (96). They had false sleeves, and were opened at the front to show the skirts underneath.
For men, the style was different. On the bottom half, the they wore long hose. The hose was like modern tights, but looser fitting. They were made of woven fabric, typically wool. They bagged up around the ankles. The upper class men wore “trunk hose,” which were “onion shaped and stuffed”. (Singman 100). They fell on the top of the thighs. Later on, canions were added. These were "tight-fitting cylindrical extensions that reached from the bottom openings of the trunkhose to the top or bottom of the wearer's knees" (Singman 100). They fell to the top or the bottom of the man’s knees. Men also wore breeches, which were “knee length trousers” (Singman 97), and they were close cut to the body, but they grew to have more volume, and were made of wool and lined with linen. On the upper body, men wore doublets, which were short, fitted jackets. They were made of wool, canvas, fine fabric, or sometimes even leather! A jerkin could be added on top. This is basically the same thing as a doublet, but sleeveless. The doublet was worn across all classes of society, but the quality and tailoring varied. Lower society wore a coat instead of a doublet.
The difference between poor and wealthy clothes was significant. The rich's clothes were mainly made of velvet, satin, and silk, and were decorated with feathers and jewels. The poor wore coarse, ill-fitting clothes. The Children basically wore miniature forms of what the adults wore, and until the age of 5, the boys dressed the same as the girls. The looks of the people in Elizabethan England were very important. They kept their pride in their appearances, and it showed.
Works Cited
"Elizabethan Clothing England." Elizabethan England Life . N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Apr 2010. <http://www.elizabethanenglandlife.com/clothing-in-elizabethan-england.html>.
Christmon, Charlene. "Fashions: Women and Men ." Elizabethan England . Springfield Public Schools, 2010. Web. 4 Apr 2010. <http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/fashionwm.html>.
Barfield, Lesley. "Hairstyles of the Elizabethan Period ." Elizabethan England . Springfield Public Schools, 2010. Web. 4 Apr 2010. <http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/hairstyles.html>.
Ferris, Julie. Shakespeare’s London: Guide to Elizabethan London. New York: Kingisher Pubications, 2000. 8-9. Print.
Singman, Jeffrey L. Daily Life in Elizabethan England. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1995. 95-108. Print.